My creative practice takes place on the lands of the Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri Woiwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present, their ancestors and families, acknowledging their deep and ongoing spiritual connection to Country. I extend my respects to Wathaurong Waddawurrung peoples, whose lands I was birthed and raised upon that have deeply shaped me and my experiences.

I acknowledge Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri custodianship of the lands, waterways and skies that I continue to live, work and benefit from, recognising that sovereignty was never ceded. I come with an intention to deepen my understanding of ancestral pathways as a diasporic being, while sharing, learning and creating on unceded lands (Melbourne, Australia).

I extend this acknowledgement and pay my respects to peer African and Indigenous peoples across the globe viewing this website.

BINTA

Curl Curl Creative Space, Gayamaygal Country - North Curl Curl
,
20 Apr - 1 May 2022

Waiting for permissions, 2021

Digital collage print on beach towel, t-shirts with display rack. T-shirt Edition of 3, Round fringe beach towel Edition of 1.

BINTA, explores themes of defiance, agency, self-determination and ingenuity as present in the work of artists living and working in Australia of African ancestry. Through an artist-led curation, BINTA celebrates the contemporary practices of a selection of African voices working across media in Australia.

Waiting for permissions, was born from a fashion magazine shoot titled "Embellishment," of white women who adorned themselves in cultural garb from across the globe. Through cutting and re-mixing, the image became stripped back and left to one model. The original shoot ironically is by a Sydney photographer. I approached the photographer back in 2020 asking for permission to use this image but received no reply to my email.

Acknowledging these histories of art production, display and appropriation practices in the Western art canon, Waiting for permissions evolved into a satirical commercial display, attempting to speak back to such histories. In considering such and my own questions, Waiting for permissions is a multi-dimensional gesture that attempts to challenge the expectations of African artists by Australian arts institutions and (hopefully) provide some laughter in this process."

BINTA was curated by Kevin Diallo and featured works by Roberta Joy Rich, H.Mur, Omar Raf Diallo, Gianna Hayes and Richmond Kobla Dido.

Photo's by Kevin Diallo.

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